A Nigerian researcher based in France, Mubarak Mahmud, has unveiled a new biological pathway that could enable cereal crops to utilise nitrogen directly from the atmosphere, a development experts say could significantly enhance global food production.
Mahmud, who works at a leading agricultural research institute in France, developed the innovation as part of efforts to find sustainable alternatives to chemical fertilisers widely used in modern farming.
The research focuses on converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form that crops can naturally absorb, thereby reducing the dependence of farmers on synthetic fertilisers while improving soil health and productivity.
Nitrogen remains one of the most important nutrients required for plant growth. However, major cereal crops such as maize, wheat and rice are unable to directly utilise nitrogen from the atmosphere, forcing farmers to rely heavily on chemical fertilisers to maintain crop yields.
Mahmud’s innovation introduces a biological mechanism that allows crops to access nitrogen naturally from the air, a process scientists believe could increase agricultural output while lowering the environmental damage linked to fertiliser production and excessive application.
Agricultural experts say the breakthrough could have significant implications for cereal production, particularly in developing countries where the high cost of fertiliser continues to limit food production and threaten food security.
They also note that enabling crops to obtain nutrients directly from atmospheric nitrogen could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with fertiliser manufacturing and overuse in farming systems.
Researchers added that although the innovation still requires further trials and field testing before large-scale adoption, early results suggest it could play a key role in advancing climate-smart agriculture and promoting more sustainable global food production.
